Browns Fired Head Coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images(BEREA, Ohio) -- There will be another shift in philosophy in Cleveland. The Browns have fired head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert.

After a 5-11 season, new owner Jimmy Haslam had seen enough and decided to go in a new direction. In two seasons at the helm, Shurmur went 9-23.

Cleveland's struggles are nothing new. The team has lost at least 11 games in each of the past five seasons. They've also made the playoffs just once since they rejoined the NFL as an expansion team in 1999.

The team's new CEO, Joe Banner, said the coaching search will be broad.

"It doesn't have to be a college coach," Banner said. "It doesn't have to be a pro coach. It doesn't have to be an offensive guy. It doesn't have to be a defensive guy. I'm more looking for qualities of a person consistent with the most successful coaches."

While it may not have shown on the field, Heckert did bring in promising young players like Brandon Weeden, Trent Richardson, and Josh Gordon.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Browns Top Bengals For First Win Of Season

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images(CLEVELAND) --  The Cleveland Browns snapped an 11-game losing streak and earned their first victory of the season, a 34-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden threw two touchdown passes on his 29th birthday to lead the Browns (1-5) to their first win since November 20, 2011.

Second-year head coach Pat Shurmur earned his first win in nine tries against an AFC North opponent.

Runningback Trent Richardson left the game with a side injury in the second half.  Montario Hardesty filled in and scored on a go-ahead one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Receiver Josh Gordon had another big game for the Browns, catching three passes for 99 yards and a score.  He now has three touchdowns in the past two weeks.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown scored on a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown off Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to put the game out of reach for Cincinnati.

Dalton passed for 381 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw three costly interceptions.

The Bengals dropped to 3-3.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio.

Brandon Weeden Named Browns Starting QB

David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images(BEREA, Ohio) --  Brandon Weeden will be the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns for the 2012 season and for the forseeable future.

Browns head coach Pat Shurmur announced on Monday that Weeden, the No. 22 overall pick in April's NFL draft will start Friday night's preseason opener in Detroit.

"Brandon is the starter and we're moving forward," Shurmur said. "We're rolling and I'm not looking back."

Weeden has taken snaps with Cleveland's first-team offense throughout the duration of training camp. He was pleased by the decision.

Last season's starter and former Texas Longhorn Colt McCoy is left to compete with veteran Seneca Wallace for the backup job.

McCoy started 13 games for the Browns in 2011.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio.